The 116 Wainwright Outlying Fells in The Lake District

The Wainwright Outlying Fells comprise 116 smaller hills and tops mentioned in the 1974 book 'The Outlying Fells of Lakeland' by Alfred Wainwright and published by The Westmorland Gazette.

It differs in format from Wainwright's Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells(which comprises seven volumes listing 214 mountains and tops - each with its own chapter) in that each of its 56 chapters describes a walk rather than a single fell - often taking in several minor tops along the way.

This has caused much confusion on the part of authors attempting to produce a definitive list of peaks - particularly when at least 7 identical fells are given different names*, there are a number of 'nameless summits'* and not all of the tops mentioned in the chapters appear on the list towards the back of the book*.

There are 110 Tops named on the list on pages 270-271 but closer inspection reveals that:

'Brunt Knott' and 'Potter Fell' are the same top

'Cartmel Fell' and 'Raven's Brow' are the same top

'Green Quarter Fell'and 'Hollow Moor' are the same top

'High Knott' and 'Williamson's Monument' are the same top, and

'Hooker Crag' and 'Muncaster Fell' are the same top

One of the 'Lord's Seat's and 'Whitbarrow' are the same top

'Woodland Fell' is the name of the moor where 'Wool Knott' is the high point

Which gives you 103 different summits. There are 13 other tops mentioned within the chapters that do not appear on the list at the back of the book which brings the total number of Wainwrights Outlying Fells to 116. All can be walked by any reasonably fit hill walker.

Incidentally, the chapters in the book are arranged in clockwise order starting in south eastern lakeland, with the first chapter devoted to Scout Scar, a walk starting at Kendal Town Hall.

*Personally, I think AW did this on purpose. His 7 Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells show an acute attention to detail and it seems unlikely that he would then go on to make so many 'mistakes'. Furthermore, I think he found all this incessant list ticking by Peak Baggers to be mildy ridiculous so included a few inconsistancies to tax us all a little. Come to think of it, the last time I was passing Innominate Tarn on Hay Stacks (Haystacks) (where Alfred Wainwright's ashes are scattered) I'm sure I heard a faint chuckle on the wind.

Your Personal Wainwright Outlying Fell Bagging Record

If you LOG ON and then RELOAD this page it will also display how many Wainwright Outlying Fells in each region you have already climbed, bagged & conquered. Furthermore, since you can also access your Personal Mountain & Hill Bagging Record via go4awalk Mobile you can quickly & easily record, edit and view your achievements - whether you are at home/work on your desktop computer or in the pub/at the top of a mountain with your iPhone, HTC Android or Blackberry Smart Phone. For more details see Your Personal Mountain, Top, Peak and Hill Bagging Record.

If you LOG ON and then RELOAD this page it will also display how many Wainwright Outlying Fells in each region you have already climbed, bagged & conquered. Furthermore, since you can also access your Personal Mountain & Hill Bagging Record via go4awalk Mobile you can quickly & easily record, edit and view your achievements - whether you are at home/work on your desktop computer or in the pub/at the top of a mountain with your iPhone, HTC Android or Blackberry Smart Phone. For more details see Your Personal Mountain, Top, Peak and Hill Bagging Record.